This is a solid example of an early production Type 97 sniper rifle as manufactured by the Kokura Arsenal. These early rifles all exhibited a very high quality level of fit and finish and were some of the best Japanese rifles produced during WWII. These type 97 rifles were produced up through about serial number 7950, which puts this specific rifle (SN 1086) as being fairly early in the production run before they switched to the type 99 series of sniper rifles. The top of the receiver is marked with the Chrysanthemum (which has been ground) over the Kanji markings for type 97. The left side of the receiver is marked with serial number 1086 and directly behind that is the four intertwined cannon ball symbol of the Kokura Arsenal. The scope base is correctly screwed and pinned to the left side of the receiver (and is absent of any sniper scope). The rifle has the early all machined barrel bands, trigger guard and floor plate with the correct early pattern lower barrel band, that is machined for the Monopod base (but missing the monopod). It has the correct style turned down bolt (mismatched) that correctly still retains it's original factory "in the white" finish. The rear sight is the correct early long staff style as used on the type 38 and type 97 rifles that is graduated from 400 to 2400 meters with the inverted "V" front with guards. The stock is the correct two piece version with the short hand guard and the polished buttplate.

Very fine with 80% + of the original blue finish showing wear and finish lose on the trigger guard and floor plate with some thinning of the blue finish on the exposed barrel. The wood is also in very good condition with minor pressure dents and dings overall from field use with 90% of it's original factory finish. A nice example of a early Type 97 sniper rifle. If you have an original sniper scope to install on this rifle it would make a very nice display piece for any Japanese rifle collection.